Ray P. Millard, 93, passed away at his home in Hermann, Missouri on Saturday March 9, 2019. Ray was born the only child of Raymond P. Millard and Dollie (Forney) Millard on February 18, 1926 in the small central Kansas town of Lyons, where his father was mayor. He often remarked as having been fortunate to have grown up there. As a boy, Ray was active in scouting and rose to the rank of Eagle Scout. While a student at Lyons High School he was selected by the Superintendent to be President of the Student Council. He volunteered for enlistment in the U.S. Navy while still in high school but was not called to duty until after graduation in 1944. He went to Great Lakes Navy training camp and was assigned to a Naval fuel tanker operating in the Pacific. (He called it a floating filling station) While in Japan’s Kobe Harbor, Fireman First Class Raymond Parker Millard, Jr. was advised he was eligible for discharge based upon the point system, and he received his Honorable Discharge papers on June 8, 1946 with a Victory Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. Upon returning to Kansas he enrolled at Kansas State University under the GI bill where he graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science (Entomology). At KSU, Ray met his bride-to-be, Kokie Nazarian, and they were married at Grace Cathedral in Topeka, KS on December 28, 1948. After graduation he worked in Ferguson, MO as a consultant for food manufacturing plants involved with dried foods such flour, popcorn, wheat, corn and traveled extensively for 18 years. With growing family demands, he resigned as Vice President and bought a small business in St. Louis that was involved with sales, parts and service of high end hydraulic and pneumatic equipment. He grew his company from 2 employees to 18. After 15 years, he closed-up shop, rented out his buildings and retired at age 60. Ray and Kokie moved from their beautiful North County St. Louis home of 36 years, where they had raised their family of three children, to a country home with acreage near Labadie, MO. Shortly after their move, Kokie became ill and passed away and later, Ray moved from Labadie to Hermann in 2004. Ray is survived by his many friends and family: daughter Connie Millard and partner Marjorie Jackson of Hermann, MO; daughter Cindy Gagnon and partner Jim Anderson of Warrenton, MO; son Stuart Millard and wife Lisa Landry Millard of Rockport, TX; three grandchildren Justin Millard, Joshua Millard and Jesse Trendley and four great grandchildren: Chelsea, Dillon, Lyla and Kurtiss. Visitation will be at Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home in Hermann, MO on Saturday, March 16th from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., with a Celebration of Life service to follow at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Miss Clara’s via the Messmer and Eitmann Foundation, 196 State Route 19 S, Hermann , MO 65041-1473.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Ray P Millard February 16 1926 March 9 2019 (age 93).
Death notice for the town of: Hermann, state: Missouri